Reading a play: scenes, asides and soliloquies
Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
The Missing Lunch (original play)
[1] SCENE 1. A school hallway, early morning.
[2] [PIA opens a locker, searches every shelf, and frowns at the empty top one.]
[3] PIA: My lunch was right here on the top shelf. I packed it myself last night.
[4] [ZEE strolls up, chewing slowly.]
[5] ZEE: Maybe the janitor borrowed it for a snack.
[6] ZEE: (to the audience, so PIA cannot hear) The janitor is me. I ate the whole sandwich.
[7] PIA: Zee, you look guilty.
[8] ZEE: Me? I am the most honest person in the whole school.
[9] [PIA narrows both eyes and walks off. ZEE slumps against the lockers.]
[10] SCENE 2. The same hallway, after lunch.
[11] [The hall is empty and quiet. ZEE stands alone under the big clock.]
[12] ZEE: Why did I do that? Pia packed that lunch for a big game, and I ate it anyway. Tomorrow I will bring Pia two lunches and a note that says I am sorry.
[13] [ZEE exits.]Ari reads the play. Zee's line in [6] is spoken to the audience. Which choice names it and says what it adds?
- Dialogue: Zee tells Pia the truth, so Pia knows who took the lunch.
- Aside: Zee tells the audience a secret that Pia does not know.
- Aside: a short remark meant for the audience, spoken while Pia cannot hear it.
- Soliloquy: Zee thinks aloud alone, so the audience hears the plan.
Bo reads the play. What does the break to Scene 2 in sentence [10] show?
- Place change: the story moves to a different building across town.
- Time shift: the story moves to after lunch, with Zee alone in the hall.
- Recap: Scene 2 repeats the talk between Pia and Zee.
- Time shift: the story goes back to before Pia finds the empty shelf.
Esme reads the play. What does the stage direction in sentence [4], “ZEE strolls up, chewing slowly,” add?
- It shows that Zee has already confessed to Pia.
- It shows that Zee is happy to see Pia.
- It is a line Zee says aloud to Pia when Zee walks up and starts talking about eating.
- It gives the audience a clue that Zee has been eating something.
Jun reads the play. Which choice names Zee's long speech in sentence [12] and says what it adds?
- Aside: Zee shares a short secret with the audience while another character is on stage.
- Dialogue: Zee tells Pia about being sorry.
- Soliloquy: a long speech spoken by a character who is alone on stage.
- Soliloquy: Zee thinks aloud alone, so the audience hears the regret.
Kira reads the play. What does the stage direction in sentence [9] show about Pia and Zee?
- Pia suspects Zee, and Zee feels bad when left alone.
- It is a line Pia says aloud to Zee as Pia walks away from the lockers.
- Pia forgives Zee and walks off to buy Zee lunch.
- Pia believes Zee, and Zee feels proud.
Luz reads the play. How does Scene 2 change what the audience knows about Zee, compared with Scene 1?
- In Scene 2 Zee tells Pia the truth.
- In Scene 1 Zee jokes and hides the truth; in Scene 2 the audience sees Zee is sorry.
- In Scene 1 Zee is sorry; in Scene 2 Zee jokes about the lunch.
- In Scene 2 Zee is terrified that the whole school knows.
The Pie Contest (original play)
[1] SCENE 1. A town fair, midday. A table holds two pies.
[2] [KIRA and Grandpa OSKAR stand beside the crowded table.]
[3] KIRA: Grandpa, the judge is coming. Are you nervous?
[4] OSKAR: Nervous? I have won this contest nine times, and I plan to win a tenth.
[5] OSKAR: (to the audience, softly) But Kira's pie smells better than mine.
[6] [The JUDGE tastes both pies and writes a note.]
[7] JUDGE: Both are wonderful, and the choice will not be easy. I will announce the winner at five.
[8] SCENE 2. The fairground, late afternoon. KIRA stands alone by the empty table.
[9] KIRA: If Grandpa loses, will Grandpa stop baking? I could tell the judge my pie has too much sugar. But that would not be fair, and Grandpa would know.
[10] [KIRA takes a deep breath and looks toward the stage where the winner will be announced.]
[11] KIRA: No. We will both wait, and whatever happens, we bake again tomorrow.
[12] [Music rises. KIRA exits.]Noah reads the play. What does the break to Scene 2 in sentence [8] show?
- Recap: Scene 2 repeats the judging from Scene 1.
- Time shift: the story moves to late afternoon, with Kira alone at the fair.
- Time shift: the story returns to the morning before the judge arrives at the fair.
- Place change: the story moves to Oskar's kitchen at home.
Pia reads the play. What does the stage direction in sentence [6], “The JUDGE tastes both pies and writes a note,” add?
- It is a line the judge says aloud to the crowd about the two pies before the results.
- It builds suspense, because the audience cannot see what the judge writes.
- It shows the judge is bored by the contest.
- It shows that the judge has already chosen Oskar's pie.
Tala reads the play. What does the stage direction in sentence [10], “KIRA takes a deep breath,” add?
- It is a line Kira says aloud to the audience while waiting by the table.
- It shows Kira is about to leave the fair.
- It shows Kira has given up on baking.
- It shows Kira calming down to make a choice.
Zee reads the play. How does Scene 2 change what the audience knows about Kira, compared with Scene 1?
- In Scene 1 Kira is cheerful with Oskar; in Scene 2 the audience hears the worries.
- In Scene 2 Kira decides to give up and let Oskar win.
- In Scene 2 Kira tells the judge about the worries.
- In Scene 1 Kira is worried; in Scene 2 Kira is cheerful with Oskar.
